Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Caples
Eight Spartans Ink Professional Hockey Contracts
4/9/2026 3:36:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State hockey saw eight Spartans sign professional hockey contracts at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Porter Martone, Trey Augustine, Maxim Strbak, Daniel Russell, Colin Ralph, Charlie Stramel, Tiernan Shoudy and Matt Basgall have all taken their talents to the next level.
Martone, Augustine, Strbak, Ralph and Stramel signed three-year entry-level contracts with their respective National Hockey League (NHL) organizations, while Russell, Shoudy and Basgall signed amateur tryout contracts in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Through five games at the NHL level, Martone is already making a name for himself with the Philadelphia Flyers. The sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Martone has posted four points (1-3-4) and is a +3 while helping the Flyers in the heart of a Stanley Cup Playoff race. His first career goal came in a big spot, scoring the overtime game-winner against the Boston Bruins on April 5, 2026, to become the only Flyer in history to score his first goal in overtime.
"I look back, and I guess the best decision I ever made [was] to go in there to Michigan State," said Martone in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I have a ton of thanks to Adam Nightingale and the whole staff there. They did a tremendous job developing me. I think I learned so much as a player, in the gym, created pro habits, and I really learned what it's like to be part of a winning culture and winning team there."
Augustine signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings organization for 2026-27 before heading to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. A second-round selection by the Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Draft, Augustine recently suited up for his first professional practice on April 7. Augustine finished his junior season with a 24-9-1 record alongside a 2.11 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts, while being named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year for a second-straight season.
Strbak signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres beginning in 2026-27 and will play the remainder of the 2025-26 season with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, joining former Spartans Jagger Joshua and Red Savage. A second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Strbak made his professional debut on April 8 against the Syracuse Crunch. Strbak posted a +20 rating and 38 blocked shots alongside 18 points in 37 games played for MSU as a junior.
A second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, Ralph reported to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL on a professional tryout after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues beginning in 2026-27. In his lone season in East Lansing, Ralph tallied a team-high 48 blocked shots, and his +20 rating was tied with Strbak as the best among MSU defensemen.
Drafted in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Stramel's three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild will begin in 2026-27 as he continues to rehab an injury sustained against Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Stramel collected 44 points (19-25-44) as a senior and his seven game-winning goals were tied for the most among all played in the NCAA this season. Stramel's +29 rating led Michigan State, and his 482 face-off wins ranked second nationally.
Russell signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. In 2025-26, Russell put up a career-best 39 points (11-28-39) and a +25 rating while playing alongside Stramel and Martone on MSU's top line. He previously attended NHL development camp with the Washington Capitals.
Basgall inked an amateur tryout agreement with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Serving as MSU's captain for his senior season, Basgall was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a First Team All-B1G selection after posting a team-best 20 points among defensemen. Basgall was the quarterback of MSU's top power play unit that ranked No. 2 in the nation following the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (.302).
Shoudy also signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but will play out the remainder of the 2025-26 season with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL before joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2026-27. Shoudy provided the Spartans with a career-best 13 assists and 20 points (7-13-20) during his senior season as an alternate captain. He, alongside Basgall and Russell, didn't miss a single game throughout their tenure at Michigan State, appearing in all 150 games. Shoudy made his professional debut with the Nailers on April 7 against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Martone, Augustine, Strbak, Ralph and Stramel signed three-year entry-level contracts with their respective National Hockey League (NHL) organizations, while Russell, Shoudy and Basgall signed amateur tryout contracts in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Through five games at the NHL level, Martone is already making a name for himself with the Philadelphia Flyers. The sixth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Martone has posted four points (1-3-4) and is a +3 while helping the Flyers in the heart of a Stanley Cup Playoff race. His first career goal came in a big spot, scoring the overtime game-winner against the Boston Bruins on April 5, 2026, to become the only Flyer in history to score his first goal in overtime.
"I look back, and I guess the best decision I ever made [was] to go in there to Michigan State," said Martone in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I have a ton of thanks to Adam Nightingale and the whole staff there. They did a tremendous job developing me. I think I learned so much as a player, in the gym, created pro habits, and I really learned what it's like to be part of a winning culture and winning team there."
Augustine signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings organization for 2026-27 before heading to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. A second-round selection by the Red Wings in the 2023 NHL Draft, Augustine recently suited up for his first professional practice on April 7. Augustine finished his junior season with a 24-9-1 record alongside a 2.11 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts, while being named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year for a second-straight season.
Strbak signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres beginning in 2026-27 and will play the remainder of the 2025-26 season with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, joining former Spartans Jagger Joshua and Red Savage. A second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, Strbak made his professional debut on April 8 against the Syracuse Crunch. Strbak posted a +20 rating and 38 blocked shots alongside 18 points in 37 games played for MSU as a junior.
#18 making his pro debut tonight in Syracuse! #LetsGoAmerks pic.twitter.com/7mxv5X2paX
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) April 8, 2026
A second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, Ralph reported to the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL on a professional tryout after signing a three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues beginning in 2026-27. In his lone season in East Lansing, Ralph tallied a team-high 48 blocked shots, and his +20 rating was tied with Strbak as the best among MSU defensemen.
Drafted in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Stramel's three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild will begin in 2026-27 as he continues to rehab an injury sustained against Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Stramel collected 44 points (19-25-44) as a senior and his seven game-winning goals were tied for the most among all played in the NCAA this season. Stramel's +29 rating led Michigan State, and his 482 face-off wins ranked second nationally.
Russell signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. In 2025-26, Russell put up a career-best 39 points (11-28-39) and a +25 rating while playing alongside Stramel and Martone on MSU's top line. He previously attended NHL development camp with the Washington Capitals.
Basgall inked an amateur tryout agreement with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Serving as MSU's captain for his senior season, Basgall was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a First Team All-B1G selection after posting a team-best 20 points among defensemen. Basgall was the quarterback of MSU's top power play unit that ranked No. 2 in the nation following the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (.302).
Shoudy also signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but will play out the remainder of the 2025-26 season with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL before joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2026-27. Shoudy provided the Spartans with a career-best 13 assists and 20 points (7-13-20) during his senior season as an alternate captain. He, alongside Basgall and Russell, didn't miss a single game throughout their tenure at Michigan State, appearing in all 150 games. Shoudy made his professional debut with the Nailers on April 7 against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
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